In a significant move to enhance student welfare and provide better career guidance, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has made it compulsory for all its affiliated schools to appoint mental health and career counsellors. This decision aims to strengthen support systems for students across India.
Revised Affiliation Norms for Comprehensive Support
The board has amended its affiliation norms to ensure that every school now has a dedicated counselling and wellness teacher, also known as a socio-emotional counsellor, along with a career counsellor. Officials explained that this change is designed to offer structured emotional support to students, helping them make informed academic and professional decisions.
Detailed Requirements for Counsellors
Under the revised framework, schools must appoint one counselling and wellness teacher for every 500 students. These professionals will have multiple responsibilities, including:
- Supporting students and parents in emotional and academic matters
- Conducting social-emotional learning sessions to build resilience
- Intervening during crises to provide immediate assistance
- Identifying mental health concerns early to prevent escalation
- Helping sensitise teachers and families about mental health issues
Additionally, they will be responsible for maintaining strict confidentiality and adhering to ethical standards in all counselling activities.
Qualifications and Training for Mental Health Counsellors
CBSE has specified that mental health counsellors must hold degrees in psychology or social work with a focus on mental health or counselling. Furthermore, they must complete a mandatory 50-hour CBSE-recognised training programme to ensure they are equipped with the latest techniques and knowledge in student counselling.
Career Guidance Formalised for Senior Students
Career guidance has also been formalised under the new norms. CBSE requires one career counsellor for every 500 students in classes IX to XII. Eligible counsellors may come from diverse disciplines such as humanities, science, social sciences, management, education, or technology. This ensures that students receive informed and comprehensive advice at key academic stages, particularly when making critical decisions about their future.
Hub and Spoke Model for Smaller Schools
To support smaller schools that may face resource constraints, CBSE has introduced a Hub and Spoke model. In this arrangement, larger "hub" schools will mentor nearby "spoke" schools, allowing shared access to counselling resources. This innovative approach ensures that even institutions with limited infrastructure can provide adequate counselling services to their students.
Addressing Rising Academic Stress
An official stated, "The initiative is designed to address rising academic stress and the growing need for professional guidance in schools. Earlier norms required full-time counsellors only in larger senior secondary schools, while smaller institutions could rely on part-time arrangements." This move aims to create a more uniform and robust support system across all CBSE-affiliated schools.
Educators Welcome the Reforms
Many educators, who have long raised concerns about student mental health, have welcomed these reforms. They noted that the changes address long-standing gaps in support systems, particularly after Class X, when students face critical academic decisions. Educators added that similar measures are now awaited in schools affiliated with other educational boards to ensure nationwide consistency in student support.
The implementation of these norms is expected to significantly improve the overall well-being and career preparedness of students, fostering a healthier and more supportive educational environment.
